Washington (CNN) – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi continued to offer effusive praise for Hillary Clinton, saying the former secretary of state would be one of the best-prepared incoming presidents if she decided to run in 2016.

"If she does, she will win and when she becomes president, she'll be one of the best-equipped, best-prepared people to enter the White House in a very long time," Pelosi said in an interview that aired Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."Follow @politicaltickerFollow @KilloughCNN

Noting Clinton's experience as secretary of state, as a U.S. senator from New York and as a first lady, Pelosi said Clinton would be "more prepared than President Obama; certainly more prepared than President Bush; certainly more prepared than President Clinton I might admit."

Asked by CNN's chief political correspondent Candy Crowley if Clinton would be more prepared than Vice President Joe Biden, Pelosi said Biden is also "very prepared."

"And I think President Bush Sr. was prepared. He was - had been a vice president," she said. "But I'm talking about recent memory of presidents that we have had."

Like Clinton, Biden has not ruled out another presidential run. His trips to Iowa and South Carolina in the last week added fire to the speculation.

But would Pelosi prefer Clinton or Biden?

"You know what, when they just announce that they're running, I'll let you know," she said.

"I always have had a habit of saying when you're serious about running, I'll be serious about it," she added. "But I think it would be magnificent for America to have a woman president. I think it would be just wonderful."

A poll released by CNN/ORC International released last week indicated Clinton would have 65% support among Democrats, with Biden a distant second at 10%, in a potential Democratic primary.

Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here.

soundoff(118 Responses)

tom

Funny Pelosi thought Obama was the best person in world> She is like the wind. It blows from all directions. Nancy like all democrats only because she is filling her pockets. Wolf in sheeps clothing!!!

September 22, 2013 01:21 pm at 1:21 pm |

Kenman

Seriously? Why would anyone care what this loony, hyperpartisan liberal politician said about another liberal politician?!

September 22, 2013 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |

Freddo

Pelosi ... now there's someone who's opinion I question.

And no, I'm not a Republican.

September 22, 2013 01:23 pm at 1:23 pm |

Thomas

@kmwatersaz
I cannot endorse an ex-Secretary of State who insulates themselves from an investigation like Benghazi. There is something sinister about this person.
===

Hey Pal , you would elect GW Bush for a third turn if you could .

You never said anything over going to war in Iraq over WMD's that never existed , how many people died in that war ?

Count the number and look in the mirror ! Don't compare apple's and oranges . LIbya and Iraq

September 22, 2013 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |

dudley

For everyone to be talking about Hillary is a sign that even the democrats are giving up on Obama getting anything done.
Hillary is politically savvy and at least she knows how the process works to getting something done in Washington. After 5 years Obama still does not have a clue. Chicago politics does not work in Washington. Obama will become more and more frustrated and mad.

September 22, 2013 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |

harvey

If Clinton runs I will probably have to do in the last two elections. I didn't vote for any candidate; I voted against Obama. This has meant that I did not necessarily voted for I felt was best. I vote for the candidate that had the best chance of defeating Obama.

I would have considered her for president but after Bengazi she is no longer a contender to me. When someone can say what does it matter about the incident in which lives were lost, they can have no part of any type of leadership role. They abdicated responsibility and did not take measures to really investigate the errors committed leading up to the incident.

September 22, 2013 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm |

Tampa Tim

There has been an investigation on Benghazi, and there was no wrong doing. Perhaps if the GOP ers had not cut funding for security, this would not have happened. Bush was asleep at the wheel on 9-11 where over 3000 citizens were killed,
W got us into an unnecessary war where we lost over 4000 troops, 45,000 were wounded and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians killed. The republicans should have been been investigated, but there was no outrage from the right.

September 22, 2013 01:38 pm at 1:38 pm |

retiree

Hillary may be qualified, constitutionally, to become president. She carpetbagged her way into to New York Senate seat, which in itself tells you something about her thinking. She was an ineffectual senator.

The cabal that runs this country then selected her to become Secretary of State, a job in which her performance is still questionable.

The quote Mrs. Clinton herself, "What difference does it make?" Yes, what difference does it make if she has these varied qualifications if her only reason for running is to be the first female president.

We'll get one sooner or later.

And to Nancy Pelosi, it has been proven by you, Boxer and others, that women are just as ineffective at running the country as the men.

September 22, 2013 01:38 pm at 1:38 pm |

Joe from Kalispell

If Pelozi backs her, then she's the wrong person for president.

September 22, 2013 01:42 pm at 1:42 pm |

Me

Yeh, she's ready alright. She has proven she can lie and dodge responsibility with the best of them. I certainly do not want Ms. "Take 20 mortar rounds and call me in the morning if you are still alive" answering the phone in the White House. I vote we impeach Obama and let old Joe have a couple of years to prove what an idiot he is.

September 22, 2013 02:05 pm at 2:05 pm |

Woman In California

"But I think it would be magnificent for America to have a woman president. I think it would be just wonderful."

I won't rain on the parade but I will say this: don't expect all women to vote for Hillary just because she's a woman. Democrats would be wise to keep that in mind.

September 22, 2013 02:18 pm at 2:18 pm |

Melvin

Kmwaters..seriously you find her sinister? Then pray tell what is Obama? Definitely NOT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. HE WANTS TO DESTROY THIS COUNTRY. Hillary is for us not against us please. Place blame where it truly lies. I do agree with the comment about I see no allegiance to this country tho. And that is starting with Obama and trickles down from there. Sad!!

September 22, 2013 03:32 pm at 3:32 pm |

john

No way, we don't need any more millionaires, ex politicians or duds. What about the other several million americans. Don't we have names other than Bush or Clinton or Cheney?

September 22, 2013 04:53 pm at 4:53 pm |

Marty, FL

Can't wait to support Hillary if she decides to run in 2016...more than qualified for POTUS.

September 22, 2013 08:10 pm at 8:10 pm |

skylarkva

Nancy Pelosi – The March Hare

September 22, 2013 09:42 pm at 9:42 pm |

WallyG

Let's see, Clinton claimed a serious head injury...is that what Pelosi thinks makes her prepared? I mean we already have a boatload of democrats with memory blackouts when it comes to Benghazi, the IRS, filing their taxes....just what is she prepared for? Vacations? State dinner toasts?

September 22, 2013 09:54 pm at 9:54 pm |

Anonymous

Hahahahahahaha . Yeah, Hitlery is the most qualified person in the country. The communist Queen Bee in person.